This is what I've been thinking... (re: Red States and Vaccine Refusers)

[hlthe2b]

I wonder what would happen if someone went on Gab and started a rumor that anti-vax activism was a secret plot to "replace" Red State populations through COVID attrition?

I understand what is likely to be the most immediate reaction-- why should we care? But... they are variant factories, which hurts us all. Not to mention it would be a bit delicious to watch the cognitive dissonance if this premise took hold.

Link to tweet

[PortTack]

1. In reality, the poorest of the poor in deep red states simply do not have access

There are still lots of places in the deep south that do not have running water or electricity, let alone internet to sign up or a vehicle to drive to get a vaccine.

The governor’s of these states should be doing outreach like they did with TB and polio. It’s shameful that they don’t

[crickets]

2. +1

[Mariana]

3. There should certainly be outreach to the poorest of the poor.

The churches should be leading the way on this, since the governors can't be bothered. They could be contacting the state and local officials, offering their buildings or parking lots for vaccination clinics, getting the word out to their congregants and neighbors, arranging and providing rides for those who need them, etc. etc. etc. There's lots they could do to help.

[Bayard]

4. Same conditions on many Native American reservations

Initially,

"the U.S. Indigenous population had more than 3.5 times the infection rate, more than four times the hospitalization rate, and a higher mortality rate than white Americans, reports the Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal health program for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Official data reveal that the Navajo Nation, the largest tribe in the U.S., has been one of the hardest-hit populations, reporting one of the country’s highest per-capita COVID-19 infection rates in May 2020, the Navajo Times reports."

But then,

"The language you hear throughout Indian country is ‘be a good relative.' Do this for the grandmas, do this for the ceremony, do this for the language, because our people are precious...We already lost a lot. We can’t afford to lose more.”

Now,
“Percent of People Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine by Race/Ethnicity and Date Reported to CDC, United States,” showed that as of July 6, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest vaccination rate in the country, with 45.5% having received at least one dose and 39.1% fully vaccinated."

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/native-americans-highest-covid-vaccination-rate-us/


The difference I see is a Nation that is close-knit, and actually cares about each other. Its above politics.

[PortTack]

5. Absolutely

[lagomorph777]

6. Different approaches for the different situations.

For people who can't reach a vaccination, find ways to bring it to them. Make sure it's free and easy.

For people who won't vaccinate because their political leaders told them not to, fuck 'em. We can't reach them anyway. The more of them that self-destruct, the better off the world is, and the more likely we are to flip some districts and states.

[PortTack]

7. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️